Army cadet with hearing of an 80-year-old receives pay-out

A former Army cadet from Suffolk has received £27,500 after being left with the hearing of an 80-year-old following a firing drill.

Storm Rae, 23, had to give up a Sandhurst scholarship after suffering ear damage during an exercise in Norway, her lawyers, Irwin Mitchell, said.

The firm claimed Miss Rae was given insufficient ear protection and suffered permanent and constant tinnitus. Her hearing was described as that of a typical 80-year-old.

The Ministry of Defence did not admit any wrong-doing but has agreed to a £27,500 out-of-court settlement, a statement added.

When I got into Sandhurst I was delighted, it is the peak of Army training and everyone dreams of going there.I was just completely devastated when I found out that I had suffered permanent damage and would no longer be able to go to the academy or even enter the Army at all.

– Storm Rae, former Army Cadet

She is now living in London and training for a job in financial services.